Slicing machine



Oct. 17, 1933. A. J. MANxl 39930815 sLIcING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2'0, 1929 2 Sheecs-Sheei'l l /7 l /7L il@ rif? HDHMJVHNX/ orggy.

` A. J. MANxl SLICING MACHINE Oct. 17, 1933.

Filed Nov. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Shree?I 2 if owney.

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEY SLICING MACHINE Adam J. Manxi, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 20, 1929 Serial No. 408,469

6 Claims.` (Cl. 14S-166) 1| slices at one operation, which slices may be quick- 'eotioin L In the drawingsz- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a slicing machine embodying my invention, as taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2. 2.5 Fig. 2is a transversevertical sectional View through the improved slicing machine as taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. l Fig. 3 is another transverse -vertical sectional view through the same as taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. f

. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of a plurality of holding arms embodied in my improved slicing machine.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of a number of spiders embodied in the improved machine.

. .Fig 6 is a perspective view of a certain lever associated with a set of arms such as shown in Fig. 4.

In general my improved machine which as 4o shown herein is especially adapted for slicing loaves of bread, includes a supporting base upon which a longitudinal extending shaft is journalled for rotation. On said shaft. is xed a plurality ,of sets of hinged, substantially circular arms, each setv being adapted to vreceive and surround a loaf to hold it in place. On the base below said shaft is a plurality of transversely disposed, longitudinally spaced blades each having a cutting edge disposed eccentric with respect to the shaft so that when the shaft is turned, a loaf is brought into engagement with the blades to be cut into a plurality of slices. After passing 'i beyond the cutting edge of the blades, the slices are retained by said arms against separation until said arms are released therefrom, when the slices may beremoved as plurality or stack ready for USE.

as best shown in Fig. 2.

Extending transversely of said frameis a plurality of longitudinally spaced, xed blades 8-8 each having a cutting edge Se disposed eccentrically with respect to a certain shaft, to be men- Said blades are spaced apart, a distance corresponding to the desired thickness of slicesA to bemade and in each endV of each bladeas well as in the bottom edge thereof are notches 9 and 10 respectively, The notches 9 -of the several blades receive combined holding and guide bars 11-11 fixed to the associated front and rear walls'4 and 5 respectively, while the notches 10-10 receive combined holding and guide bars 12-12, one fixed to and rising from each ang'e 7 before mentioned. The end frame members 2 and 3 respectively are-further connected together by tie rods 13 whichextend through suitable openings provided therefor in the several fixed blades 8. The cutting edge 8a of each blade which is formed in the front top portion thereof is curved or substantially semicircular and preferably said edge is scalloped as tioned later.V

shown to improve its cutting action.

Each end frame member 2 and 3 respectively is formed at its mid portion with an upright extension that terminates in a bearing 2ZL and 3a respectively, to receive a longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed driven shaft 14. One end of said shaft is extended beyond its associated bearing 3a and has there iixed to it a spur gear 15. Said gear is enclosed in a guard 16 fixed to the end frame member 3 and in said guard is journalled a shaft 1'7 parallel with and below the On said shaft 17 Within the guard is fixed a spur pinion 18 meshing With the gear 15 and on the shaft 17 outside of the guard is iiexd a crank 17a by which the shaft 14 may be rotatively driven in the desired direction. Of course, it is apparent that any desired means may be employed for driving the shaft said end of the shaft 14.

14, other than that just described.

Referringnow in detail to that embodiment of the-inventionillustrated in the drawings, 1 indicates as a whole the frame or base of the Inachine which comprises, upright end frame members 2 and 3 respectively and upright front and rear walls 4 and 5 respectively, Xed to said'end frame'members in any suitable manner. Said front and rear walls, each'includes a horizontally disposed, inwardly extending bottom flange 6 terminating in a vertically depending fiange 7 so as to leave an open space between said flange '7 7 roo On the shaft 14 is provided a plurality of longitudinally spaced spiders 19-19 with one of such spiders disposed in the plane of each cutter blade 8. Each spider 19 as shown herein has three arms 20 and in each arm is a rectangular opening 2l. Said arms are all secured to the shaft in said spaced relation by a spline 22 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 respectively. A shaft 23 of rectangular cross section extends through the arms 20 of said spiders and mounted on each of said shafts is a loaf holding means, each in itself comprising a set of loaf holding members 24 disposed in planes between those of the several spiders 19. As the holding members of each set thereof are all alike, a detailed description of one will suffice for all. Each holding member comprises a pair of semi-circular arms 25 and 26 respectively pivotally connected together as at 27. The arm 25 has a rectangular opening 28 through which the associated shaft 23 extends. The free ends of all the arms 26 of a set of arms are connected together by a longitudinally extending bar 29 (see Fig. 3) and this bar has a cylindrical extension 30 atthat end beyond the-right hand endmost arm ofthe set. Each arm 26 is also provided with one or more inwardly extending pointed prongs 31.

Fixed toA that portion of the right hand endmost Varm 25 of each set is a ratchet plate 32 and on each bar extension 30 is'pivoted a lever 33 best shown in Fig. 6. VSaid lever includes a tooth 34 to engage with the teeth of the associated plate 32 -so as to detachably lock the free endlof the arms 26 to the arms 25 as is apparent. A spring 35 associated with each lever, holds Athev same in -a position with its tooth in engagement with the desired tooth of the ratchet plate 32 and saidV ,lever is provided with a bent over end portion 36 to limit its movement in the other direction when the tooth 34 is released from the tooth of the ratchet plate 32 with which` it is engaged.

For ease in following theoperation of the machine I have applied to Figs. land 2 the reference characters A, B and C respectively, which are employed to indicate positions only. Assume now that it is desired to slice but asingle loaf of bread. The lever 33 of the set of holding members 24 in position A are released so that the arms 26 may be swung about the pivots 27 away from the arms 25 whereby a loaf of bread may be positioned upon said arms 25 after which the arms 26 are swung downwardly and are locked by the lever 33 and ratchet plate 32. When the arms thus surround the loaf, the prongs 31 bite into the loaf -and prevent its movement.

The crank or handle 17a is now turned clockwise and this will through the pinion 18 and gear 15 will rotate the shaft 14 counter clockwise and at a slower speed. As the set of arms formerly in position A now approach the cutting edges 8a of the bla es 8 the loaf is cut with a shearing action, passing through positions B and C, back to A. When the sliced loaf again reaches position A, the arms 26 are released and the slices of bread may be simultaneously removed as a stack, ready for serving.

Should the machine be employed where large quantities of sliced .bread are required, as in restaurants, hotels and other public eating establishments, the first loaf is placed in the holder when in position A and the handle is turned to bring it to position B thus moving the holder formerly in position B to position C and the holder formerly in position C to position A ready to `receive a second loaf and so on. In this manner a plurality of loaves are positioned ready for slicing as occasion demands and when the sliced loaf reaches position A it is removed and another loaf is positioned for future slicing.

Such crumbs as are formed in the slicing of the bread may drop down through the space between the members 12--12 upon a tray (not shown) which may be placed in position beneath the base 1 to catch the same. i

By my improved machine not only bread may be readily sliced, but also edible articles such as meat loaves and rolls may be cut into the desired slices. The machine may be of any desired length,V is fast and positive in operation and is simple in construction so that it will not readily get out of order.

While in describing my invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the several parts thereof, the

same is to be considered merely as illustrative of one embodiment vof the invention so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except `as may be specifically set forth in theappended claims.

I claim as my inventioml. A slicing machine embodying therein a plurality of laterally spaced fixed, cutter blades, a rotative shaft disposed above and transversely of said blades, a plurality of article holding means fixed to said shaft and movable in the rotation of said shaft to present said articles Ato 4said blades, '105 plane of said blades, a plurality of arms fixed tof said spiders in planes between those of said blades and other arms operatively engaged at one end with anassociated fixed arm the other ends of al1 of said other arms being connected together and adapted to be detachably connected to said fixed arms.

3. A slicing machine, a frame including end members, a plurality of laterally spaced, fixed cutter blades on said frame between said end members, a shaft arranged transversely of said blades and'journalled in said end members for a. rotative movement and a plurality of article holding means fixed to said shaft for rotation and each including laterally spaced pairs of coacting pivotally connected arms to embrace thel article for holdingv the same in the presentation thereof to said blades one end-of one arm of.' each pair being xed with respect to said shaft and the other end of the other arms of said pairs being fixed with respect to said shaft and the' other end of the other arms of said pairs being connected together.`

4. In a slicing machine of the kind described,

varticle holding member, comprising a shaft, a plurality of sets of laterally spaced members in-` cluding arms, some of the arms of one set being fixed at one end with respect to .the shaft, means pivoting one end of the other arms of said set to the other end of the first mentioned arms means connecting the 'other end of said other arms in each set together and means for detachably connecting said other end of said second mentioned arms to the fixed end of the first men.- tioned arms.

5. In a slicing machine of the kind de' scribed, article holding means comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality of sets of laterally spaced members, each including a pair of curved arms, one end of one arm of each member being xed with respect to said shaft, means pivoting one end of the other arm of each member to the other end of the first mentioned arm, means connecting the other end of all of said other arms in said set together and means for detachably connecting the last mentioned end of said other arms with respect to the first mentioned end of the first mentioned arms.

6. A slicing machine embodying therein, a

frame, a shaft journalled at its ends therein, Aa plurality of xed cutter blades arranged in spaced relation in said frame below said shaft and each having a cutting edge, a plurality of article holding members arranged in planes between said blades, vand each including curved arms pivoted together at one end, means for securing the other end of one arm with respect to the shaft, means for connecting the other ends of all of said other arms together and coacting means on the last mentioned ends of both arms for securing them in article encircling relation.

ADAM J. MANXI. 

